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The 58-year-old wants to stay at St James’ Park, where he has been for just over three years, but is keen to get some assurances from owner Mike Ashley before he puts pen-to-paper.

That is amid suggestions he is growing frustrated with the limitations put on him at Newcastle having long been linked with walking away from the club, with Ligue 1 just the latest destination he is rumoured to be on his way to.

The Daily Star understands that Benitez’s demands will be realistic and that one of the main ultimatums will be to keep Rondon in the north east.

The Venezuelan has excelled since joining Newcastle on loan from West Brom in the summer but at the age of 29, it is thought Ashley is reluctant to meet the Baggies’ £16m valuation.

Rafa Benitez's current contract expires at the end of the season (Image: GETTY)

Benitez wants Salomon Rondon to be signed permanently (Image: GETTY)

Mike Ashley will have to make promises to keep Benitez (Image: GETTY)

Benitez is desperate to keep the much-loved No 9, who is Newcastle’s top scorer this season having scored 10 goals and laid on five assists in 27 matches across all competitions.

Newcastle may hope to bring that fee down by including Dwight Gayle in a player-plus-cash deal, with the striker having gone on loan to the Hawthorns and fired 17 goals to put West Brom in contention for an immediate return to the top flight.

Benitez also has long-term goals to turn Newcastle into a club capable of challenging with the top six clubs.

While the former Liverpool and Real Madrid coach accepts that ambition is unrealistic in the near future, Benitez wants to ensure Newcastle are at least clear of a relegation battle in coming campaigns and wants two players in the price bracket of Miguel Almiron’s January signing.

Ashley finally broke Newcastle’s 14-year-long transfer record by recruiting the Paraguayan No 10 Almiron for £20m from MLS outfit Atlanta United at the turn of the year.

Salomon Rondon has been a major hit at Newcastle (Image: GETTY)

Benitez wants more signings in the stature of Miguel Almiron (Image: GETTY)

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And Benitez wants more signings of a similar price tag to help Newcastle push for the top eight and put in a greater showing in cup competitions, having failed to get to even a quarter-final of either the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup since 2005-06.

Despite working on a limited budget - with even the promoted trio of Wolves, Cardiff and Fulham’s net spends having exceeded Newcastle’s this season - Benitez has seemingly steered them clear of the drop a second straight year.

With six games to go of the campaign, the club are seven points clear of the bottom three with Fulham and Huddersfield’s fates having already been confirmed.

Benitez’s spectacular work at the club means the board are desperate to keep him - although it appears there may be more negotiating to do with the boss seemingly targeting a £50m-plus spend this coming summer.

Newcastle’s next match sees them face Crystal Palace tomorrow (3pm) as they seek a sixth straight home victory to lift them further clear of danger.